Dehdadi Research Farm

History:

Dehdadi Research Farm is located at the back-yard area of Dehdadi district, approximately 17 kms away from the Mazar-e-Sharif City. The mentioned farm was established after 1362 (1983) and a part of it was used for seri-culture and was given to Agriculture Research Department for further agriculture use. Some parts of the farm was left in its original form or used for seri-culture. It is said that the area of the farm which includes both the parts, is 165 Jeribs. The research part is 80 Jeribs and the seri-culture part is 50 Jeribs. This data shows that the both parts of the farms is approximately 130 Jeribs.

Current situation:

At the centre of the farm, a water storage pond is built for irrigation. The research building is located at the south eastern corner of the farm and the farm is also comprised of a warehouse, 2 shelters/parks, a building with three rooms, a kitchen and a washroom. Presently, this building is used by PHDP research personnel. In addition, another building which is made of bricks and mud, has two rooms. This building is used by the farm’s personnel. A container is also exist in this farm which is used to store agricultural tools. As per the discussions with the relevant personnel of this farm, 25 Jeribs of this farm is used by the PHDP’s long-term project for horticulture development. 10 Jeribs of this part of the farm is covered by apricot trees. This part of the farm is known as National Apricot collection. The apricot trees are planted with a distance of 5*5. Another 9 Jeribs is covered with National Almonds Collection and the distance between each tree is 5*5, and another 4 Jeribs are being used for showcasing/demonstration of the mother board of apricot, peach, pomegranate, grapes, apple and pear trees.  Another half Jerib of the farm is used for almond nursery/saplings and the rest of one and half Jeribs is unoccupied.

Another organizations like ICARDA, CIMMYT, FAO and French Cooperation, share their experimental programmes to the office of the research which is further tested/experimented by the research personnel.

The remaining 50 Jeribs of the farm is utilized by the research office to test cereals like wheat, rice,  mung bean and etc.  Moreover, researches are carried out on vegetables like tomato, carrot and onion. Momentarily, the carrot and wheat crops are harvested, however, rice and mung-bean are to be harvested. The official personnel of this farm are 17 and 8 contracted staff/ajeer. The contracts of the projects personnel are temporary and these personnel are 13 in number. They have 5 months contract each. The irrigation canals have conventional design and rats have made holes in them. In order to prevent and control from further destruction, the canals needs to be concreted/lined as well as the central pathway of the farm. The farm lacks the basic pathways, therefore, well-structured pathways and routes have to be constructed. Moreover, the major parts of the farm need cultivation. The farm also has 3 tractors and one of them is not functional, 2 threshers, 2 seeders, one bundle thresher, one plot thresher, one garden tractor, one Russian trailer, one Japanese pickup, 10 motor cycles, however, 4 of them are not functional, one disc plough of 3 blades and one 9 blades. This farm gets its irrigation water from Nahri Shaahi Canal.

This farm has been actively researching on the cereals and vegetables to produce new and resistant verities in different seasons and it shares the results of research with the extension department,  for further development in this area.

Suggestions:

  • The water canals need to be reconstructed with iron bars and concrete. These water canals are connected to the Nahri Shahi canal intake are built traditional way. In order to prevent/control the water losses, the water canals from their intake up to the farm and the secondary canals that transfer water to the plots (having 2500 meters length) and its depth and width should be determined according to the water quantity while re-constructing lined canals.
  • The in-farm pathways (1190 meters) should be paved with concert
  • The current tractors (Massey Ferguson) are weak to perform heavy tasks, therefore, a stronger tractor like Russian Belarus should be purchased.
  • 10 additional personnel are needed to be hired to perform the farm’s tasks.
  • Since the farm is far from the city, a coaster should be rented for the transportation of the staff

Loading